French nuclear energy firm EDF has priced the first long-dated sterling bond since 2007, as corporate issuers in Europe continue to reopen parts of the debt markets that have remained closed since the financial crisis.

The firm priced a £1bn deal late on Tuesday, arranged by Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Credit Suisse. Long-dated bonds of this type are rare but a combination of a low yields for investors in senior bonds and a lack of supply made EDF's 40-year note attractive in the current environment.